On Tue, 4 Sep 2001 16:21:46 +0300, "George S" wrote:

>Look. When I started to look for a camcorder I have in mind to buy an
>analogue one becouse of their low price. However someone told me that the
>editing in a computer require a video-card (about 200-250$) and it is very
>"painfull". So, I started to look for a digital one. The IEEE1394 costs
>about 80$ so I think, "why do not pay this extra 100-150$ to buy a digital
>one?". Also the editing is easier with a digital camcorder. However my
>question is : are these cheap digital camcorders better than analogues with
>the same price ? (I'm always asking this becouse I want a camcorder to make
>a film for a small festival (something like a cinmea festival for amateurs
>and I want a camcorder with wide angle capture capability and with good
>quality and manual functions as well).

It appears you are looking for what everyone wants: a tiny
Mini-DV camcorder with top-quality picture and sound, full
manual control (in addition to first-rate auto controls),
and very low price. Unfortunately, there is no solution to
this - *all* camcorders are compromises. At the low end, you
would do better with one of the best Hi-8 cameras, bought
used (late ones are worse than earlier ones - the Sony
TR700/TR101/VX3 were good). Moving into Mini-DV and avoiding
the worst, the Sony TRV17 is probably the best buy now for
image quality (its earlier version, the TRV11, would be
a better buy as a used/demo/close-out...). The $100 Raynox
HD6600-58 with suitable adapter rings is the best WA
converter I've found for it - to satisfy your WA needs.
Consider also a used PC5/9 (similar picture to the
TRV11/17) or a used TRV20/PC100/PC110 (sharper image,
but it's not all "gravy"...;-). For "real" editing, you
may need better software than what comes with an $80
FireWire card, but it can get you started... With low-end
gear, the image and sound will not be top-quality, but
good enough to tell a story if used with care/imagination
to minimize shortcomings... Primarily, have fun with
it. It is tough to have aspirations, but no suitable
budget - but start somewhere and see where you get...!;-)